Getting better and better
After being selected by the Lakers with the 27th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, it was clear that Kyle Kuzma was going to be a good player in the NBA. In the summer with the Lakers, Kuzma helped lead the team to a Summer League Championship in Las Vegas.
During the tournament, Kuzma showed a real knack for scoring, and that carried right into his rookie season. In a great first year with the Lakers, Kuzma averaged 16.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. Kuzma shot 45 percent from the field and 36 percent from beyond the arc, as he was a versatile scorer.
If not for Ben Simmons and Donovan Mitchell both having some all-time great rookie seasons, Kuzma easily could have been the Rookie of the Year. While his rookie season was great, Kuzma has improved so far in his second season with the Lakers.
Midway through his second season, Kuzma has bumped up his points per game to 18.8 a contest. Even though he struggled with his shot from beyond the arc to start the season, Kuzma is improving from a great rookie season. At just 23-years-old, Kuzma is only going to get better.